Buying for a jewelry lover this holiday season? It’s hard to top something sparkly and precious, but beautiful books about jewelry will suffice in a pinch. Fortunately, it's been a great year for jewelry book releases, with tomes of all types debuting—from glamorous coffee table books to text-heavy explorations of how gems, jewels, and jewelers’ life stories intersect with history and culture.
Below, check out a new biography of Harry Winston, an ode to one of the world’s most coveted gemstones, and more jewelry-centric titles filled with historical and gemological tidbits, along with lively insider anecdotes. And let’s just say the photos—did we mention the photos?—will envelop you in a Nutcracker-like wonderland of candy-colored stones and diamonds…
Sybil & David Yurman: Artists and Jewelers (Phaidon, $69.95)
A book for passionate David Yurman collectors and students of jewelry history alike, this gorgeous volume traces the evolution of the celebrated American jewelry design house through original artworks, family photographs, personal texts, and more than 400 images from the Yurmans’ archives. Written by the founders themselves, with Thierry-Maxime Loriot as editor, it captures the brand’s most pivotal moments over the course of 50 years, from the Yurmans’ early days in the underground art world to the creation of their iconic cable bracelet in 1983, and ultimately landing on the global stage. For an extra-special gift, signed, limited editions of the book are available; each is housed in an elegant clamshell box ($150).
Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color (Watch Print, $150)
In this lavishly illustrated tribute to this incredibly rare, remarkably bright Windex-blue variety of tourmaline, gemologist Kevin Ferreira and jewelry influencer Katerina Perez dig into the gemstone’s unique qualities and enduring allure. The book covers how and where paraiba tourmaline is mined and highlights an array of jewelry designs that feature the gem, with examples from Oscar Heyman, Taffin and Chanel, among many others.
Jewelry’s Shining Stars: The Next Generation (ACC Art Books, $65)
“I thought it was time to feature the independent, irrepressible, and strong women today who are visionaries and are designing for a whole new generation and who, as I say in the book, are shaping jewelry’s present and future,” author and jewelry historian Beth Bernstein told JCK this summer. Profiles of 45 female designers—and their unique sensibilities—take center stage in Bernstein’s 176-page showcase, an elite group that includes Marie Lichtenberg, Lauren Harwell Godfrey, Beth Hutchens, Erica Molinari alongside plenty of other well-knowns.
The Wiliam Goldberg Way ($75)
If you’ve spent any time in New York City’s Diamond District, then you probably recognize the name William Goldberg. When the renowned diamantaire opened new headquarters on 48th Street, New York City recognized his significant contributions to the community by naming the block between Fifth Avenue to Madison Avenue “William Goldberg Way.” Now, the firm is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a book published in collaboration with jewelry expert and writer Jill Newman. Full of compelling archival visuals and little-known stories about the firm’s late founder, it takes the reader on a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of a diamond’s journey from mine to market, with special attention paid to the creation of Goldberg’s famous Ashoka diamond in 1999. Now celebrating its 25th year, the Ashoka’s graceful, elongated shape pairs the clean linear facets of an emerald-cut diamond with the sparkle of a round brilliant stone (and only a very select group of jewelers are allowed to sell it).
If Jewels Could Talk: Seven Secret Histories (Gallery Books, $27)
Jewelry historian, jewelry editor at British Vogue, and podcast host Carol Woolton has put together an illuminating romp through the fascination histories of hoops, rings, beads, charms, brooches, cuffs and head ornaments—pieces of jewelry that link us around the world. Highlighting Viking silver torques, Imperial jade, Roman cameos, coins and more, the book also beautifully connects the past to the present, revealing, among many things, how au courant ancient jewelry looks in a modern context.
King of Diamonds: Harry Winston (Skyhorse Publishing, $33)
Penned by Ronald Winston, son of the late, legendary New York City diamantaire, this is the definitive biography of the man who once owned a third of the world’s most famous gems (including the Hope Diamond at the one time). But the narrative is juicier than you might think. In fact, inserting his own experience at the helm of the business, the author offers an insider’s look at a world that mirrors the fraught family dynamics of HBO’s hit series, Succession. Think business rivals, treacherous colleagues, vindictive clients, and back-stabbing family members. A zippy read to say the least!
Evolution of a Goldsmith (Mayo Books Press, $250)
This handsome coffee table book charts master goldsmith and high jeweler Nigel O’Reilley’s unlikely journey from dyslexic schoolboy from the remote West of Ireland to power player in the elite world of high jewelry (New York-area jewelry lovers may have caught his recent trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman). Thoughtfully blending personal and professional anecdotes with beautiful captures of his one-of-a-kind jewels, this book offers a lively portrait of O’Reilly, from the breadth of his creativity to the superb vision and skills he brings to his craft. Celebrated British jewelry designer Shaun Leane has written the forward.
Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time (Ballantine, $30)
Formerly of Christie’s and Sotheby’s and currently the senior jewelry curator at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, author Helen Molesworth believes the history of gemstones is the history of humanity. That’s the premise of this memoir-like book, which chronicles the history of rubies, emeralds, pearls, sapphires, diamonds, and more, while interweaving tales of her own experiences with them throughout the world (e.g. sifting through the rivers of Sri Lanka in search of sapphires or handling the private jewelry collection of HRH Princess Margaret). You’ll be planning your next trip abroad every step of the way!
Ray Griffiths: The Works ($60)
It’s mostly photographs in this natty monograph, a wonderful addition to your library if you already a fan of this designer’s innovative designs (cocktail rings and hardstone beads are our favorites!). Known for his signature Crownwork technique—which he learned as an apprentice repairing crowns and tiaras—Griffiths has an affinity for the most magnificent colored gemstones. The Australian-born, New York-based jeweler has assembled a visual journey alongside a lively tale of his evolution as a designer—and his many adventures and discoveries along the way.
Top photo: A spread from the Sybil and David Yurman: Artists and Jewelers book
